Our Retreat Setting
Eden Waters is located on the water at Daleys Point, on the Central Coast of NSW, just an hour north of Sydney.
From the top of the driveway, you can head straight into Bouddi National Park with access to walking trails, rocky outcrops, vistas, and bike trails.
If you are drawn to water, you can walk down to our jetty to fish, kayak on Brisbane Water or get a lift to Lobster Beach with a pre-prepared picnic lunch.
If finding a quiet nook is appealing to you, there are many peaceful spots on site to grab a chair and journal and sit privately.
Retreating at Eden Waters
Retreat Rhythms
Your entire experience retreating at Eden Waters will revolve around connecting with the God who loves you. When you arrive, take some time to chat with Tim and Sue about your hopes for retreating and your needs for during your stay. Your hosts will make sure you have all you need. Check in to rooms is at 2pm but you can arrive earlier to retreat in common spaces at Eden Waters.
Take it slow, reflect quietly, jot down your thoughts, pick a Psalm that resonates with you – get creative, make it your own. Think about preparing some verses to think on in advance of your stay or talk to your mentor or spiritual director in preparation for meeting with God.
Try some retreat activities, and whether you're walking, kayaking, or sitting with a journal, it's time and space to be intentional about connecting with God. We will provide some structure to your day, but our heart is to be flexible in providing you with care that is thoughtful and responsive to your needs.
"I think our time, our walk, was an intentional time with God. Even though we were talking together, God was very much part of it, and helping direct our talk."
Sonja Wakeley
"Having done many retreats before, it’s really good to have those structured resources that can help provide a little bit of direction and framework. Mostly, I spent the last many hours just sitting, looking and watching. It’s amazing what thoughts God brings to mind when you’re allowing Him time to speak with you."
Andrew McInnes
Retreat Hosts
Tim and Sue will be your hosts for your stay at Eden Waters.
They have had a calling to lead a retreat space for over fifteen years and Eden Waters is a physical expression of their dream.
A place where God’s love, abundance, and generosity nourish and heal. They have a shared heart for leaders who are carrying burdens and responsibilities that are heavy to bear including those in church, business, and not-for-profit settings.
It is their desire to hold space for leaders to develop and practice life patterns that help us work with God’s rhythms of His sustenance, generosity, and love.
Together with other strategies for self-care, Tim and Sue believe that retreating has been a key element of spiritual and emotional health in their lives.
"I love the combination of Sue and Tim. They just work really well together, complimentary as a team – fantastic!"
Keith Farmer
More about Tim
After completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Project Management, Tim worked for 25 years in commercial construction. From 1999 to 2018, Tim was Managing Director of North Construction and Building, overseeing growth in the company from $10M to $100M per annum.
Integral to Tim’s leadership development was 15 years membership of The Executive Connection – a business mentoring and coaching organisation.
Tim has served as an Elder (including two periods as Chairperson) of Coast Community Church for over 15 years, a director and now Chair of ET Australia for nearly 20 years, and has been a board member of Coast Christian School.
Tim is passionate about values-based leadership and enjoys living out his spiritual gifts of leadership and discernment. Tim is passionate about investing in leaders.
The growth of this vision over a number of years culminated in Tim’s decision to sell out of Norths at the end of 2018.
Tim enjoys keeping fit through running, hiking and playing tennis, but his favourite recreation activity is downhill skiing.
More about Sue
Sue’s desire to be part of creating a retreat has been birthed out of a long and sustained desire to walk alongside people in helping them to discover who they are and how to lead lives that fulfil that.
She completed a BADipEd at Macquarie University and BTh through Sydney College of Divinity, equipping her to engage as a teacher, a Children’s Pastor at our Tumbi campus, a volunteer SRE teacher and as a Chaplain in a local public school.
Sue often shares that her most cherished and fulfilling role has been that of a mum. The pleasure that has come from nurturing and providing support for her three children as they mature into disciples and well-rounded adults continues to be significantly important.
She is passionate about sustainable rhythms and developing family strength.
You can often find her out enjoying bush walks and catching up with friends and family.
Together with Tim, they have been part of the Coast Community Church family for more than 27 years.
Your Retreat Experience
Boat House
About Retreat Room
Guest House
About Retreat Room
Tree House
About Retreat Room
Loft House
About Retreat Room
Retreat Stays
We provide three options for your stay.
2-night stay – Monday and Tuesday nights. $220 incl GST per night, including all meals and drinks. Check in on Monday at any time to retreat in communal spaces (access to rooms from 2pm). Check out on Wednesday morning by 11 am.
3-night stay – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. $220 incl GST per night, including all meals and drinks. Check in on Wednesday at any time to retreat in communal spaces (access to rooms from 2pm). Check out on Saturday morning by 11 am.
5-night stay – Monday – Friday nights. $220 incl GST per night, including all meals and drinks. Check in on Monday at any time to retreat in communal spaces (access to rooms from 2pm). Check out on Saturday morning by 11 am.
Affordable Stays
We have carefully considered our prices and are mindful of all budgets with the aim of removing pricing barriers so that you can retreat at Eden Waters.
Prices are per room per night. Come on your own or as a married couple at no extra cost. This pricing is to intentionally encourage you to retreat together if possible.
We also encourage our guests, those with the means to do so, to support other leaders by paying it forward. We believe you'll agree that the experience at Eden Waters is worth more than the base rate per night. By choosing to contribute more, your generosity will enable those with fewer financial resources to experience retreating at Eden Waters.
Name: TO & SB Cornish
BSB: 062544
Acc: 10320242
If you would like to stay at Eden Waters and cannot afford to do so, please contact us by using the General Enquiry on the INFO page.
Activities at Eden Waters
Walking Options
A walk in Bouddi National Park – talk with your hosts about the Daley’s Point walking trail or a longer walk to Maitland Bay (options between 2-5kms) – medium grade.
A walk to Ettalong – from the top of the driveway, you can access the Rip Bridge and a flat walk to Ettalong (3.6km return).
Water Activities
Kayaking – When the tide is heading to Low Tide – plan kayaking trips to Hardys Bay or Ettalong to stay with the current. When the tide is heading to High Tide, you move with the tide if you kayak to Woy Woy and Saratoga. Please chat with your hosts about the tides under the Rip Bridge.
Fishing – we have fishing equipment here for your use. It only takes a few minutes to sort out a 1 or 3 day fishing licence permit online (you’ll need your driver’s licence).
Beach Retreat – talk to your hosts to arrange a day at Lobster Beach. Take your packed lunch, swimmers and your journal for a quiet, secluded beach retreat.
A Day at Eden Waters
The Daily Rhythm
Morning Reflection: Begin your day with personal time for reflection and prayer. The tranquil surroundings offer the perfect backdrop.
Delicious Breakfast: Enjoy a hearty and delicious breakfast and coffee prepared by your hosts, Tim and Sue, served with warm hospitality or have a continental breakfast dropped to your room.
Personal Retreat Time: The bulk of your day is yours to spend as you wish. You can explore the natural beauty around you, engage in quiet reflection, and use optional retreat resources. Talk to your hosts about suggestions and feel free to use Eden Water’s camp chairs, backpacks and drink bottles.
Lunch: A satisfying lunch is given to you at breakfast. Put your lunch in your room fridge until you’re ready to eat it at your choice of time and location.
Evening Gathering: As the day mellows, come together at 5pm for Happy Hour with other retreaters followed by a communal meal and relaxed conversations, fostering a sense of community.
Reflective Time: After dinner, engage in easy-going reflections, perhaps sharing insights or experiences from your day or head back to your retreat space.